G1 target for facile Flemensfirth winner

The Punchestown Festival has been a happy hunting ground for trainer Pat Fahy and he has his eyes on a G1 prize there with Castegrace Paddy (7g Flemensfirth-Thunder Road, by Mtoto) after he won a black-type event with ease at Thurles on Saturday.

Carrying the colours of Clipper Logistics, the seven-year-old led home a 1-2 for Flemensfirth when beating Jett (7g Flemensfirth-La Noire, by Phardante) to take the Listed Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He had been stiff and sore after his last run in December but had no issue for the last six weeks and I could start into training him,” said Fahy. "He should come on tons from this and he'll probably run in the Grade 1 two mile novice chase at Punchestown next.

“He likes being fresh and we'll keep him fresh for Punchestown now - he's exciting and he deserves a lash at the Grade 1.”

Bred by P J W Byrne. Castlegrace Paddy was sold for €75,000 at the 2016 Goffs Punchestown Sale following his only point-to-point start.